Snakebyte Ergo Grip S2 Charging Grip for Switch 2 REVIEW

Quick Connect, Ergonomic, Joy Con Play-N-Charge Grip

Even though I enjoy playing with the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller, I often pair the Joy-Cons with my Joy-Con grip for quick gaming sessions.  I know I am not the only one who has found a few minutes to game, powered up the Nintendo Switch 1 or 2, and discovered a dead pair of Joy-Cons.  I have tried either leaving the Joy-Cons attached to Switch 1 or 2 in the dock to charge, or adding them to a charger like the Snakebyte Twin Charge S2.  However, I still regularly find Joy-Cons that are dead or low on charge.  

One solution to the problem is to use a Joy-Con charging grip, such as the Ergo Grip S2 from Snakebyte.  The Ergo Grip S2 for Switch 2 arrived in a 6 3/8-inch long by 5 3/16-inch-tall by 2-inch-thick hanging-style retail package.  The cover listed the company name at the top left, product name at the bottom left, For Nintendo Switch 2 logo at the bottom right, and grip/charge icons at the top right. The mid segment displayed a large black Joy-Con Grip with Joy-Cons for Switch 2, set against a vibrant red sunburst pattern.  The black top panel listed the company name and social media icons, while the red bottom panel featured a UPC barcode and product manufacturing labels.  The left-side panel listed the company name and Switch 2 logo, and displayed a zoomed-in image of the charger grip’s front. The right-side panel displayed four product feature icons and short descriptions for each: lightweight grip, integrated Joy-Con charging, quick-snap connection, and LED charge indicators.  The rear panel provided a summary of the main features, company name, Switch 2 logo, the four product feature icons, contact information, and a few pictures of the charger with and without Joy-Cons.  

I lifted the panel’s top and removed its contents.  I found a 3.8-ounce JoyCon grip, multilingual product information/warranty guide, a six-panel quick start guide, and an 80-inch (~200cm) USB-A to USB-C cable.  I was impressed with the USB cable, the USB-C prong, and USB-A prong.  Each end had a resilient neck segment, well-machined/designed metallic ends, and a durable 1/8-inch-diameter black cable.  The quick start guide provided an easy-to-follow installation process, a charging LED light legend, and a QR code. 

I compared the Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con grip (3.6 ounces) to the 3.8-ounce Snakebyte charging grip and found both had a centralized 4 1/2-inch-tall by 1 7/8-inch-wide by 1/2-inch-thick Joy-Con attachment point.  The Nintendo grip had dual 3 1/2-inch tall grips with flat front plates, while the Snakebyte S2 had 3 3/4-inch-tall grips with rounded grips.  The snakebyte’s grip had a more rounded, larger, bulbous lower segment and felt more comfortable in my hands.  On first impression, I was concerned about needing to wedge the JoyCon into the smaller compartments of the Snakebyte system. However, the hatchback design allowed for convenient installation without risking damage to the Joy-Cons. 

The installation process for the Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con grip was also a bit different from that for the SnakeByte S2.  Instead of simply sliding the JoyCons into the JoyCon grip, you will need to press the small lock button on the back and swivel the front away from the grip.  Insert the JoyCons and then lock the front back down.  Plug the included USB-C cable into the top of the Snakebyte S2, then plug the USB-A prong into the Nintendo Switch 2 dock.  The Snakebyte S2 has dual LED directly flanking the USB-C port.  The lights will illuminate red when charging and will turn green once fully charged.  

Despite the lackluster Switch 2 Launch, I have enjoyed playing Mario Kart World and recently Metroid Prime 4.  Snakebytes’ larger size was an asset for the Joy-Cons, providing a more ergonomic, comfortable placement for the left and right thumbsticks.  The smaller Nintendo grip seemed to work marginally better for my six and ten-year-olds, but not enough to have dead or low Joy-Cons.  I loved that I could use more of my pinky/ring fingers with the controller and that I had no cramping or thumb strain after a gaming session.  Now, if only adulting, parenting, and working left a bit more time for Hobbies.

Conclusion: 
I was a big fan of the Snakebyte Ergo Grip S2 and found the larger grip more comfortable than the standard Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con grip. It felt closer to a Pro Controller grip/feel than the standard Joy-Con grips. I liked the installation process and found the S2 grip worked well with the rubberized Snakebyte JoyCon covers that came with the Snakebyte Starter Kit S2. The hinged open/close mechanism provided an easy-to-add/remove functionality for the Joy-Cons.  I appreciated the generous ~80-inch-long USB-A-to-USB-C cable and found it offered an appropriate distance between my switch and my gaming chair or bed.  After about a week of testing, the Ergo Grip S2 became one of my MUST-HAVE Switch 2 upgrades. I highly encourage you to pick one up this holiday season for the Switch 2 gamer in your life.  

Learn more Snakebyte’s Ergo Grip S2 and follow Snakebyte on Facebook and X (Twitter).